AMATEUR BASIC LICENCE COURSE - LESSON OUTLINE - MAR 1998
Numbers in [ ] are chapters from the RAC study guide.
Items marked * are extra material, not on the exam.
Each numbered item should take approximately 15 minutes to
present. Each session is 3 hours (12 items, including a 15
minute break.)
Every week we will demonstrate one aspect of ham radio.
Every week we will explain some regulations and operation.
REGULAR STAFF:
Morse Instructor Brad VE3RHJ
Videotaping none
Coffee & Donuts Bob VE3STS
Room Setup
Instructors Brad VE3RHJ, Bob VE3LKD, Bernie VE3BQM,
Grant VE3GCQ, Bob VE3XOX
Demonstrations
A. WEEK 1 - MORNING - Electricity
INSTRUCTOR: Brad VE3RHJ
DEMONSTRATOR:
EQUIPMENT: 2m base rig (?), HF base rig (VE3RHJ)
1. About the Course & the Exam
a) The purpose of this course is to get you through the exam.
We'll also include some practical knowledge, such as how to
set up and operate your ham station.
b) The exam is easy. Mostly memory work. Math no worse than
multiply and divide, and you can use a calculator.
c) Exam is 100 multiple choice questions, 60% pass
d) There will be homework!
Every week you'll be expected to do the practice questions.
e) The Formula for Success
1) Take notes in class.
2) When you get home, do the assigned questions.
3) Questions you don't get, try to find by reading.
Beware - the BDX book is highly condensed.
4) Questions you still don't get, bring next week.
f) Drill with the Question Bank!
g) When possible I'll note questions you WILL face.
2. License Classes & Privileges [1]
a) Every radio service has certain "bands" of frequencies.
b) Frequency is an important concept; we'll come back to it.
Basically, it's "the number on the dial" of your radio.
c) Citizens Band is one band, voice only.
Amateurs have 28 bands and many operating modes,
and 4 licence qualifications.
d) BASIC allows all bands & operating modes above 30 MHz.
most common: 2m FM, local & portable
2m packet, worldwide "e-mail"
6m SSB allows some DXing (talking to distant stations)
e) 5 WPM Morse Code Endorsement - adds bands below 4 MHz.
80m and 160m bands, CW (Morse code) or SSB (voice)
nightime & winter DXing, to Europe & sometimes worldwide
f) 12 WPM Endorsement - allows use of ALL amateur bands
40m, 20m, 15m bands, the heavy DX bands
10m, which has characteristic of several bands
g) Advanced Endorsement - allows you to use higher power,
homebuilt equipment, and operate an automatic repeater.
h) Two licenses
1) operator licence, like drivers license, free & lifetime
2) station license, like auto plates, $25 per year
3) callsign comes with the station license
4) station license must be posted
i) This class teaches Basic qualification and 5 wpm code.
12 wpm code is self-study: practice, practice, practice.
We offer an Advanced when there's enough interest.
j) PRACTICE QUESTION: 3-030, 3-091.
3. Studying the Morse code / how to use SuperMorse
a) You need to be able to send and receive Morse code at 5 wpm
(one letter every 2 seconds).
b) Learning & Receiving:
We provide & recommend SuperMorse program for IBM PC.
If you don't have a PC, we have cassette tapes.
c) Learn the letters BY SOUND! (Don't draw dots and dashes)
d) Study 15 minutes, once or twice a day.
e) We will learn the letters in groups.
f) Study to 7 or 8 WPM for 5 WPM test. Random groups are best.
g) SuperMorse uses Farnsworth method: 18 wpm letters @ 5 wpm
h) How to use SuperMorse (HANDOUT)
i) Sending:
We provide a LOANER key and oscillator.
As you are learning the characters, try sending them.
Sending is the easy part.
j) The code exam is 3 min receive, 3 min send (15 words).
English text, numbers, and Q signs.
Make no more than 5 mistakes. You can correct mistakes when
sending. (demonstrate error code)
4. MORSE LESSON 1: ETANIM
Words TEA TEN TIN TAN NIT NET MEN MAN MINE TAME
5. Atoms & Electricity [2]
a) All matter is made up of atoms.
1) Nucleus has protons & neutrons.
2) Electrons orbit the nucleus.
3) Protons are positive, electrons are negative.
4) Normally, positive and negative exactly balance.
b) Electricity is the flow of electrons.
c) CONDUCTORS allow electrons to move freely, e.g. copper.
d) INSULATORS don't allow electrons to move, e.g. glass.
e) SEMICONDUCTOR, e.g. silicon:
1) In pure form, insulates.
2) When "doped" with impurities, to have either too many or too
few electrons, conducts.
3) Too many electrons is N type, too few electrons is P type.
f) Ions
1) When you take an electron away from an atom, what's left is
an ion. (Positive)
2) You can also add an electron, making a negative ion.
3) Ions can also conduct electricity.
4) Ions in the atmosphere can reflect radio waves. (We'll
discuss this later.)
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-010, 1-026, 1-028.
6. Voltage & Current [2]
a) The flow of electrons is current, given the symbol "I".
b) We measure gasoline in litres, and we measure electrons in
COULOMBS. (6.28E18 electrons)
c) Current is measured in coulombs per second, or AMPERES.
d) Current flow is always measured through a conductor.
e) Voltage is the pressure that makes electrons flow. Also
called Electro-Motive Force (EMF), given the symbol "E".
f) Voltage is measured in VOLTS.
g) Voltage is always measured between two points; a difference
in pressure ("potential difference").
h) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-102, 1-108,
7. AC & DC, Amplitude & Frequency [5]
a) Current can flow one way, called Direct Current or DC.
b) Or it can flow back and forth: Alternating Current or AC.
c) The pressure (voltage) can also be one-way (DC) or
alternating (AC).
d) If you were to measure AC voltage or current over the course
of time, it would look like this (plot sine wave).
e) One complete up-and-down is a CYCLE.
f) The height of the cycles is the AMPLITUDE.
g) How quickly the cycles occur is the FREQUENCY -- measured in
cycles per second, but called "Hertz".
h) Example: the "mains" electricity has a frequency of 60 Hz.
i) If there are 60 cycles per second, how many seconds does one
cycle take? 1/60 = .017 seconds.
j) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-061, 1-174, 1-040.
8. BREAK
9. REGS: Frequency Bands [17]
a) Now that you understand frequency, let's look at the amateur
frequency bands.
b) Look at the chart of Region 2 ham bands (HANDOUT or p.145).
c) Most of the frequencies are given in Megahertz, which is
millions of cycles per second.
d) Higher frequencies are Gigahertz, billions of cycles/second.
e) The lower-frequency bands are also known by their wavelength
-- how long the radio wave would be, if you could see it.
f) e.g. 2 metre band is 144-148 MHz.
g) MF = 0.3 to 3 MHz, HF = 3 to 30 MHz, VHF, UHF
h) You can convert metres to Megahertz by dividing into 300.
E.g., 300 / 1 MHz is 300 metres.
300 / 10 metres is 30 MHz.
i) Note that the bandwidths in the table are approximate!
The frequencies are exact.
j) The table also specifies BANDWIDTH.
This is how wide a slice of frequency your signal occupies.
It determines what operating modes are allowable (voice, CW)
k) You need to know that bandwidth is measured 26 dB down.
l) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 3-095, 3-107, 3-116.
Work through all the similar questions!
10. Math Skills [A]
a) Use your calculator - it's allowed on the exam, and
decimal point mistakes are common.
b) All electrical measurements are metric, and take metric
prefixes - kilovolts similar to kilometres; milliamperes are
like millilitres.
c) The main prefixes are: mega (M), kilo (k), milli (m), micro
(u), pico (p) (SHOW CHART).
d) You need to be able to convert from one prefix to another.
You can do this by multiplying and dividing, or just by
moving the decimal point (SHOW THIS ON CHART)
e) E.g.: 20 kilovolts = 20,000 volts.
E.g.: 3 milliamperes = .003 ampere.
E.g.: 560 kilohertz = .560 megahertz.
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-110, 1-111, 1-177.
g) Note: most formulas require "base units" without prefixes.
You must convert to this form before using your calculator.
11. Resistance and Ohm's Law [3]
a) All conductors "resist" the flow of electricity.
b) A device specifically made to resist flow is a RESISTOR.
c) Resistors are made of poor conductors, e.g. carbon.
d) Resistance is given the symbol "R", and is measured in Ohms.
e) This is named after Ohm, who discovered that Resistance,
Current, and Voltage are related. E=IR. I=E/R. R=E/I.
f) Ohm' Law triangle: cover the unknown quantity to get the
equation. (SHOW TRIANGLE)
g) E.g.: 1-093. I=4.4 amps, R=50 ohms. Compute E.
h) E.g.: 1-095. E=6 volts, R=30 ohms. Compute I.
i) E.g.: 1-127. E=10 volts. I=1 mA. Compute R.
j) SAMPLE PROBLEMS: 1-126, 1-120, 1-124, 1-129.
12. Measurements
a) current
1) moving coil "ammeter"
2) place in series!
3) looks like very small resistance
b) voltage (potential difference)
1) voltmeter
13. MORSE REVIEW 1: ETANIM
Words MAT TINE NAME IT MEET AN TIME AT MANE
TEA TEN TIN TAN NIT NET MEN MAN MINE TAME
B. WEEK 1 - AFTERNOON - Components
INSTRUCTOR: Bob VE3LKD
DEMONSTRATORS: Brad VE3RHJ, Bob VE3STS
EQUIPMENT: 2m handheld
1. DEMO: 2m FM operating procedures
a) First rule: ALWAYS listen before transmitting!
b) "Simplex" is your radio transmitting directly to another.
Both of you are transmitting and receiving the same
frequency.
1) DEMO: calling a known station
"VE3LKD this is VE3RHJ"
Note that HIS callsign goes first; YOUR callsign goes last.
2) DEMO: replying to a call:
"VE3RHJ this is VE3LKD (returning)"
3) DEMO: calling anyone on frequency
"VE3RHJ monitoring" or sometimes "VE3RHJ"
4) DEMO: joining a conversation in progress
Insert your callsign at a break in the conversation.
"VE3STS"
Don't say "Break", that's for emergencies;
and certainly don't say "Breaker Breaker".
When you are conversing, it's courteous to leave 1-2 second
gaps before transmitting, to let people enter.
c) You must identify your station at the start and end of your
conversation, and every 30 minutes. It's courteous to ID
more often.
d) For more range, you can use a "repeater" station to relay
your signal. To do this, you must receive on one frequency
and transmit on another. The repeater will retransmit your
signal on the first frequency.
e) This is called "duplex" and the difference in frequencies is
the "offset". All 2m repeaters use either +600 kHz or -600
kHz offset.
f) Repeater operating procedures are basically the same as
simplex. But:
1) Wait for the courtesy beep (if there is one) before
transmitting.
2) Don't talk too long; the repeater will "time out" and cut
you off.
3) It's wise to let the repeater "drop" -- that is, wait until
the repeater's transmitter switches off -- occasionally.
g) When several people join the conversation, it's a "round
table". Try to ensure that everyone gets a turn. It's a
good idea, at the end of your transmission, to say who
you're turning the frequency over to. (Sometimes it's
obvious.)
h) An net is like a roundtable, but it has a "net controller"
to control whose turn it is on frequency. You must "check
in" to the net. (The net controller will call for
check-ins.) Then you must wait until you are called. You
always turn the frequency back over to the net controller.
1) DEMO: check in
"Any checkins for the radio course net" "VE3LKD"
2) DEMO: taking your turn
"VE3LKD, go ahead" "blah blah...back to net."
3) We have nets on 146.940 MHz (- offset) Thursday 9 pm, and
3.783 MHz LSB Sunday 9:30 am.
2. PRACTICAL: Understanding the 2m rig
a) The volume control.
b) The squelch control. Shuts off the speaker when there's no
signal (or the signal is too weak). If this is turned too
high, it will shut out weak signals.
c) The frequency control or "dial". Selects the RECEIVE
frequency. This may be a knob, or a keypad, or both. This
is the frequency that is normally displayed.
d) The offset switch. Controls the TRANSMIT frequency. Can be
set to "simplex", "+" (+600 kHz), or "-" (-600 kHz). For
VE3OSR repeater, use "-". "+" or "-" is published with the
repeater frequencies.
e) The output power switch. May be "high" and "low" or there
may be more than two choices. Use the lowest power that
gives a clear signal. With handhelds, lower power will
extend battery life.
f) Memories (general concept). Most modern 2m rigs let you
"store" several frequencies, like a car radio. You can use
this to store the repeater frequencies you most often use.
The transmit offset is stored with the frequency.
Every radio works differently, so read the owner's manual.
3. MORSE LESSON 2: DSOURC
Words SO OR ROD SOD COD CUD CUR
CAD SON RUM DICE RUST CODE COURSE
4. Series Resistors [3]
a) Series resistors add: the total resistance is the sum of the
individual resistances.
b) Resistors in series have the same current passing through
them, but different voltages across them.
c) Total voltage across all resistors = sum of individual
voltages
d) E.g.: 1-133. 10, 270, 3900, 100 ohms in series = 4280 ohms.
e) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-135, 1-131. (Discuss 1-131.)
f) Note this special case: if you have N series resistors of R
ohms each, the total resistance is N*R.
In this case, power is divided equally among the resistors.
g) PRACTICE QUESTION: 1-134, 1-147..
5. Parallel Resistors
a) Parallel resistors add reciprocals: the reciprocal of the
total resistance = the sum of the reciprocals (SHOW FORUMLA)
b) Resistors in parallel have the same voltage across them, but
different current through each.
c) The total current = the sum of the individual currents.
d) e.g.: 100, 500, 2000 ohms in parallel = 80 ohms
e) Note this special case: if you have N parallel resistors of
R ohms each, the total resistance is N/R.
In this case, power is divided equally among the resistors.
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-074, 1-137 (Discuss 1-074.)
g) Compound problems (series and parallel) must be reduced in
stages, taking the simplest combinations first.
h) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-144, 1-151.
6. Power [3]
a) When you have voltage and current, you have power.
b) The symbol for power is "P"; power is measured in watts.
c) The formula for power is P=EI. E=P/I. I=P/E.
d) The Power triangle: cover the unknown quantity to get the
formula. (SHOW TRIANGLE)
e) The power in a resistor is turned to heat.
f) Resistors are rated by power dissipation (in watts).
g) E.g.: 1-165. 10 mA, 10 volts = 0.1 watt.
h) E.g.: 1-164. 12 volts, 30 watts = 30/12 ampere
i) E.g.: 60 watts, 5 amps = 12 volts
j) Many compound problems require both Ohm's Law and the power
forumula.
k) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-088, 1-089, 1-094. (Discuss 1-094.)
l) PRACTICE QUESTION: 1-064.
7. Batteries [2]
a) Batteries are a source of EMF (voltage) and current.
b) PRIMARY batteries are non rechargable.
Example is carbon-zinc flashlight battery.
c) SECONDARY (or "storage") batteries are rechargable.
Example is lead-acid car battery.
d) Batteries are rated by their voltage.
e) All real batteries have some internal resistance. When you
draw current, there is a "voltage drop" which subtracts from
the output voltage.
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-113.
8. BREAK
9. REGS: Q-signals [12]
a) Q-signals are abbreviations for common radio messages.
Originally used for Morse code, but often heard on voice.
(HANDOUT or p.147-148)
b) Q-signals may be a statement or a question (if followed by a
question mark).
c) Most commonly heard Q signals (GIVE EXAMPLE OF EACH)
QSO You are being called by... (informal: a radio contact)
QTH My location is...
QSL I acknowledge receipt (informal: a QSL card)
QRM I am being interfered with ("M"anmade interference)
QRN I am troubled by static ("N"oise)
QSB Your signals are fading
QSY Change frequency to...
QRZ? Who is calling me?
QRS Send more slowly ("S"lower)
QRQ Send faster ("Q"uicker)
note that QRQ is not in the text.
d) All of the signals on the chart may be on the exam; you are
expected to know them. Learn six each week.
e) Not a Q-signal, but "CQ" means "calling any station".
E.g. "CQ, CQ, CQ, this is VE3xxx"
f) This is used on HF bands to contact anyone.
It's not used on 2 metre FM.
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 3-031, 3-042, 3-035, 3-039.
10. Inductors, aka "chokes" [4]
a) Whenever a current flows through a wire, it produces a
magnetic field.
b) Winding the wire in a coil concentrates the field, i.e.,
makes the magnetic field stronger.
c) Coiling the wire around a piece of steel makes an
electromagnet.
d) In any of these cases, changing the current flow changes the
magnetic field.
e) If you have a wire in a changing magnetic field, a voltage
is "induced" in the wire.
f) This voltage acts to RESIST changes in the current flow!
g) Energy is stored in the magnetic field. This energy is
returned to the circuit to resist the change.
h) This effect is called "inductance", given the symbol "L",
and is measured in henries.
i) A device designed to do this is an "inductor" (or "coil" or
"choke"). Because inductors resist CHANGES in current flow,
they pass DC easily, but resist AC.
j) Other things to know about inductors:
1) permanent magnets are normally made from steel
2) like magnetic poles repel (i.e., north repels north)
3) you need a bigger L for lower frequencies (e.g. audio)
4) use laminated iron core for bigger L (e.g. audio)
k) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-098, 1-196, 1-077.
11. Series & Parallel Inductors [4]
a) Inductors in series and parallel combine just like
resistors.
b) Series inductors add, e.g. 1-187
four 12 uH inductors in series = 48 uH
c) Parallel inductors add reciprocals, e.g. 1-188
two 12 mH inductors in parallel = 6 mH
d) PRACTICE QUESTION: 1-189.
12. Transformers [4]
a) A changing magnetic field induces a voltage in a wire.
What happens if one coil of wire is inside another coil's
magnetic field?
b) Changing the current in one inductor (the "primary"),
changes the magnetic field, which induces a voltage in the
other inductor (the "secondary").
c) This is called a transformer. As long as the current is
changing, energy is transferred from the primary to the
secondary.
d) What kind of current is always changing? (AC.)
Transformers can transfer AC but not DC.
e) Transformers can also increase or decrease the AC voltage
("step up" or "step down"). This is because more turns of
wire in the coil will induce more voltage, and fewer turns
induce less voltage.
f) The important thing is the RATIO of secondary to primary
turns. Voltage changes in proportion to the number of
turns.
g) E.g. 110 V into 1100 turns, 100 turns will give 10 V. 50
turns will give 5 V. (SHOW FORMULA)
h) PRACTICE QUESTION: 1-199.
i) Transformers also increase or decrease AC current.
Current varies as the INVERSE of turns, i.e., fewer turns
mean more current, more turns mean less current.
j) E.g. 1 A into 1100 turns, 100 turns will give 11 A.
k) Because current goes down as voltage goes up, power is
always unchanged! Transformers do not affect power.
l) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-201, 1-200.
13. MORSE REVIEW 2: DSOURC
Words DOSE SOUR CAT RIM SEND CRAM TIDE RAN MAID ROSE NICE
CAD SON RUM DICE RUST CODE COURSE
C. WEEK 2 - MORNING - Components continued
INSTRUCTOR:
EQUIPMENT:
1. Homework review
2. MORSE LESSON 3: KPBGWL
Words BE PIG WE LAKE LOW BUG PACK ILK PEW GAB
3. Capacitors [4]
a) Whenever two conductors are seperated by an insulator, you
have a "capacitor".
b) Usually this takes the form of two plates separated by a
thin insulator -- air or plastic.
c) The insulator is called the "dielectric".
d) Although DC can't get through the capacitor, AC can.
pass AC, block DC
e) The electrons don't actually pass through the capacitor.
Instead, electrons build up on one plate, and this negative
charge pushes electrons off the other plate.
f) You can do this for a short time and a small number of
electrons, but eventually you have to reverse things and let
the electrons flow back.
g) This is what happens with AC. The faster you do this, the
better it works, so, capacitors pass high frequencies BETTER
h) You can put electrons on one plate and leave them there:
1) Thus, capacitors can STORE electric charge.
2) When charged, capacitors resist changes in VOLTAGE
3) When charged, the capacitors are storing energy. This
energy is stored in an ELECTRIC (electrostatic) field.
i) The ability to hold charge is the "capacitance", given the
symbol "C", and measured in farads.
j) Real capacitors will be microfarads or picofarads.
k) You can increase capacitance by:
1) making the plates bigger;
2) moving the plates closer together; or
3) inserting a dielectric material between the plates.
l) You can make a VARIABLE capacitor by changing the overlap of
the plates. Usually this is done by turning one (the
"rotor") and leaving the other fixed (the "stator").
m) Capacitors can only withstand so much voltage before they
break down. They are rated by their "working voltage".
If you connect capacitors in series, the combination has a
higher working voltage.
n) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-179, 1-181, 1-060.
4. Series & Parallel Capacitors [4]
a) Capacitors are OPPOSITE of resistors and inductors.
b) If you connect them in series, you add the reciprocals (SHOW
FORMULA).
c) E.g.: 1-191. Three 15 uF in series = 5 uF.
d) If you connect them in parallel, you just add them.
e) E.g.: 1-190. Three 15 pF in parallel = 45 pF.
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-192, 1-084..
5. Reactance & Impedance [4]
a) Both capacitors and inductors oppose the flow of AC.
Inductors offer more opposition to high frequencies;
capacitors offer less opposition to high frequencies.
b) This opposition to AC flow is called "reactance" and is
given the symbol "X". It is measured in ohms. Unlike
resistance, it doesn't apply to DC.
c) Both inductors and capacitors have reactance.
d) The reactance of an inductor, Xl, goes UP with
1) higher frequency, or
2) larger inductance.
3) For audio frequencies, you use large inductors.
e) The reactance of a capacitor, Xc, goes DOWN with
1) higher frequency, or
2) larger capacitance.
3) For audio frequencies, you use large capacitors.
f) When a circuit has both resistance and reactance, the
combination is called "impedance", given the symbol "Z".
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-182, 1-195, 1-194.
6. Resonance [4]
a) Inductors and capacitors act in opposite ways. What happens
when a circuit has both inductive and capacitive reactance?
b) The reactances vary with frequency. As the frequency
increases, inductive reactance goes up, and capacitive
reactance goes down. At some frequency they will be equal.
(SHOW DIAGRAM)
c) At this frequency, the inductor and capacitor cancel each
other out! This is called "resonance", and the particular
frequency is the "resonant frequency".
d) The resonant frequency depends on the amount of inductance
and capacitance. Change either, and you change the resonant
frequency.
e) This is one way to "tune" a radio to a desired frequency.
f) There are actually two kinds of tuned "LC" circuits
(that is, circuits with an inductor and capacitor):
1) LC in series, has a LOW impedance at resonance
2) LC in parallel, has a HIGH impedance at resonance
g) Sometimes you'll hear mention of the "Q" of a tuned circuit.
This is the "quality factor" and determines how strong the
resonance is.
h) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-066, 1-099.
7. BREAK
8. REGS: Forbidden Things [17]
These are things you are FORBIDDEN to do with your radio:
a) Send a false distress message [p.4].
b) Interfere with or obstruct communications [p.4].
c) Send superfluous signals [p.6].
d) Send profanity [p.6].
e) Use ciphers or secret codes [p.10].
f) Communicate with non-hams [p.10].
g) Broadcast music [p.10].
h) Communicate with certain countries [p.10].
Some countries have notified the International
Telecommunications Union that they object to their amateurs
talking to us. The list of forbidden countries is published
by Industry Canada from time to time.
i) Pass "third-party traffic" to other countries [p.10]. This
means passing messages on behalf of someone who is not an
amateur. Third-party traffic IS allowed if the countries
agree. For example, third-party traffic to the U.S. is ok.
The list of "ok" countries is published by Industry Canada
from time to time.
Note CFARS and MARS are not considered third parties.
j) Send an unmodulated carrier, except for brief tests [p.13].
k) Accept payment for amateur communications, or use amateur
radio for commercial purposes [p.14].
l) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 3-014, 3-083, 3-084, 3-092, 3-114,
3-015.
9. Diodes [9]
a) Diodes are devices which pass current in one direction only.
b) This means they will pass DC,
and pass half of the AC cycle.
c) AC is converted to pulsating DC. This is called
"rectification", and diodes are sometimes called
"rectifiers"
d) Most modern diodes are solid state, made out of two pieces
of semiconductor (such as silicon), one N-type and one
P-type.
e) There are also vaccum-tube diodes.
f) The positive side of the diode is the "anode". This is the
P-type silicon.
g) The negative side of the diode is the "cathode". This is
the N-type silicon.
h) Electrons can flow only from cathode to anode.
i) On the diode symbol (SHOW PICTURE), the arrowhead is the
positive side.
j) Diodes are used in power supplies to convert AC to DC.
They are also used to demodulate radio signals, that is,
turn radio signals back to audio (more on this later).
k) A special kind of diode, the ZENER diode, conducts only
above a specified voltage.
l) These are used for voltage regulators.
m) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-018, 1-020, 1-029, 1-019.
10. Transistors, F.E.T.s, and Tubes [9]
a) Transistors, Field Effect Transistors, and tubes all serve
as "amplifiers". These take small (weak) signals and make
them larger (stronger).
b) They are all essentially electron "valves". The control
terminal determines how strong a current can flow through
the device.
c) A very small control signal can affect a very large current
flow! This is how they amplify.
d) They all have three terminals: essentially an input, an
output, and a control. You need to know their schematic
symbols, and the names of the three terminals. The names
are different for each device.
e) Bipolar transistor
1) This is a sandwich of THREE pieces of semiconductor, either
NPN or PNP. If you hear "NPN" or "PNP" you know "bipolar
transistor".
2) Current flows from "emitter" to "collector", UPWARDS on the
schematic (SHOW DIAGRAM).
3) The control terminal is called the "base".
4) Note: overheating can destroy a bipolar transistor.
f) Field Effect Transistor (FET)
1) This is a "channel" of one type of semiconductor, either N
or P type, with a restriction of the other type. If you
hear "N channel" or "P channel" you know it's a FET.
2) Current flows from "source" to "drain", again UPWARDS on the
schematic.
3) The control terminal is called the "gate".
g) Vacuum Tube
1) This is a glass or metal tube full of vacuum, with metal
elements.
2) Current flows from the "cathode" to the "plate".
The plate is sometimes called as the "anode".
3) The control terminal is called the "grid".
4) Vacuum tubes need one more element to work: a "filament", or
"heater". Its purpose is to make the cathode hot so that it
will emit electrons. This is why glass vacuum tubes glow.
(SHOW DIAGRAM)
h) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 1-016, 1-024, 1-035, 1-034.
11. Oscillators
a) What happens if you feed the output of an amplifier back
into its input? Does it get stronger still?
b) What happens if you hold a P.A. microphone near the speaker?
c) This "feedback" causes the amplifier to OSCILLATE. This
means it generates its own AC signal. In a P.A. system, the
oscillation is a loud squeal.
d) In a radio, we sometimes build "oscillators" on
purpose...such as to generate a radio wave of a desired
frequency.
12. MORSE REVIEW 3
Words PORK WING BELT SLAB DUCK WAGE MOP
BE PIG WE LAKE LOW BUG PACK ILK PEW GAB
D. WEEK 2 - AFTERNOON - Propagation
1. DEMO: Packet Radio
2. PRACTICAL: t.b.d.
3. MORSE LESSON 4: QHFY
Words HE FLY QUIT HIS FRY HALF QSY QRT QTH QSL
4. Radio Waves & Wavelength [5]
a) We learned that a current through a wire makes a magnetic
field, and a voltage across a capacitor makes an electric
(electrostatic) field. When they occur together, it's
called an electromagnetic field.
b) Unlike electrons, electromagnetic fields can travel through
the air. These are "radio waves."
c) They have to be alternating (AC) at a sufficiently high
frequency, thus, "radio frequencies".
d) Thru empty space, radio waves travel at the speed of light:
300,000 km/sec.
e) How far does a radio wave travel during one cycle?
f) Wavelength = Speed / Frequency (SHOW FORMULA)
g) Example: if frequency = 1,000,000 cycles per second (Hz),
and speed = 300,000,000 metres per second (speed of light),
then during one cycle, the wave will move 300 metres.
h) Wavelength is an important property, which we'll talk about
more when we get to antennas.
i) Remember that radio frequencies are sometimes given in Hz,
and sometimes in approximate wavelength (metres).
e.g. 75m = 4 MHz. 2m = 150 MHz.
j) The rule: 300/MHz is wavelength in metres.
k) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-056, 2-002.
5. Propagation [6]
a) So, how do radio waves travel around the earth?
There are several ways.
b) DIRECT wave - a straight line from one antenna to another,
when the antennas are in line-of-sight.
c) GROUND wave - is bent by earth surface, over the horizon.
1) This is mostly useful at lower frequencies, where it can
follow the earth's surface for thousands of miles.
shorter range at higher frequencies
2) At very high frequencies, the wave bends less. VHF and UHF
is limited mostly to line-of-sight. Except...
d) TROPOSPHERIC wave, also called tropospheric "ducting" -
the radio wave is bent by thermal layers in the atmosphere,
just like light is bent to form a mirage.
1) This is often seen on 2 metres, and on VHF television.
When you can suddenly hear/see TV stations or 2m repeaters
from hundreds of miles away, it's probably tropospheric.
e) SKIP, or the "sky wave" or "ionospheric wave" - the radio
wave is reflected by the ionosphere, high in the atmosphere,
back down to the earth's surface.
This is an important mode of propagation, and we'll discuss
it more after the break.
f) There are other (minor) modes, but these are the big four
that you'll hear about on the test.
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-022, 2-023, 2-067, 2-068.
6. REGS: Permitted Things
a) Your STATION license authorizes one fixed, one mobile, and
one portable rig, but only one may be used at a time. [p.9]
b) Non-hams (or lower qualifications) may operate an amateur
rig under supervision & in the presence of a qualified ham
[p.8].
c) Radio controlled models may be operated ABOVE 30 MHz
d) Amateur communications may be freely divulged.
e) If you have an ADVANCED qualification, you may:
1) Use homemade transmitters [p.9].
2) Operate a repeater [p.10].
3) Be the license holder for a club station [p.10].
4) Run the maximum allowable power (more on this later).
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 3-011, 3-062, 3-109.
7. BREAK
8. The Ionosphere [6]
a) The ionosphere is a very high part of the atmosphere, where
the radiation from the sun turns the atoms into ions.
b) There are three distinct layers of ionized gases. They're
labelled D, E, and F, moving outward from earth.
(SHOW PICTURE)
c) During nighttime, the atmosphere becomes less ionized
(because there's less sunlight).
d) During daytime, the atmosphere becomes more ionized.
The F layer splits into two layers, called F1 & F2.
e) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-062, 2-048, 2-036, 2-122.
9. Skip [6]
a) "Skip" is when the radio wave is reflected (refracted) from
ionosphere back to the earth's surface.
b) Typically the wave can return to the earth's surface
thousands of km from the transmitter. This is the "skip
distance." The skip distance is determined by the geometry
of the situation, and two factors:
c) First, the higher the wave goes before it's reflected, the
farther away it will land. Thus, a higher layer will give a
longer range. (F layer gives the longest range.)
d) Second, the lower the "angle of radiation", the farther away
it will land. (SHOW ILLUSTRATION) The longest range is
when the radio wave is aimed just above the horizon.
e) Note that there are places over which the radio wave skips.
This is called the "skip zone", and your signal can't be
heard there. So close stations may not hear you, even if
far-away ones can.
f) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-057, 2-058, 2-039, 2-006.
10. Behavior of the skip layers.
The three layers have different skip behavior.
a) The F layer (in daytime, F1 & F2) is main layer for skip
communication. It's the long-distance skip layer, and the
most reliable. It's only works well in the HF bands.
b) Skip can travel around the world by multiple reflections.
This is called "multihop".
c) The E layer "sporadically" develops patches of great
ionization. When this happens, it can reflect VHF signals
over a medium distance. (< 2000km) This is called "sporadic
E" skip. If you work 6 metres, this is your best DX mode.
d) The E layer can also reflect MF frequencies which are
radiated at a very high angle. Straight up, straight down.
This is a short-distance skip mode that works at lower
frequencies.
e) The D layer absorbs low frequencies, and prevents them from
getting through to the E or F layers.
f) Really high frequencies pass right through the ionosphere.
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-034, 2-027, 2-025, 2-029.
11. MUF & LUF & the best frequencies to use [6]
a) The frequency where waves pass through the ionosphere is
called the "critical frequency". This and any higher
frequencies won't reflect. So, there is a Maximum Usable
Frequency, or "MUF".
b) LOW frequencies are absorbed by the ionosphere (D layer)
instead of being reflected. So, there is a Lowest Usable
Frequency, or "LUF".
c) The MUF and the LUF depends on how strongly the atmopshere
is ionized. This in turn depends on:
1) The time of day - there's more sunlight at noon!
Ions dissipate slowly during the night, so the minimum
ionization is just before sunrise.
2) The season of the year - there's more sunlight in summer!
3) The sunspot cycle. When there are more sunspots, the sun
emits more of the radiation that ionizes air. Sunspots
increase and decrease in an 11-year cycle. When at a
sunspot "peak", the ionosphere is more ionized.
d) "Solar storms" can ionize the air so strongly that ALL radio
waves are absorbed. This blacks out sky wave signals.
e) Both the MUF and the LUF increase when there's more ions.
So the basic rule is: more sun, higher frequency!
f) During nighttime, winter, and the sunspot lull - the best
ham bands are the "low frequency" bands: 2, 4, 7 MHz.
g) During daytime, summer, and the sunspot peak - the best ham
bands are the "high frequency" bands, 14, 21 MHz. When all
add up, 28 MHz is a good band, and on rare occasions, 50MHz.
h) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-017, 2-070, 2-072, 2-079.
12. Static and Fading [6]
a) The atmosphere can also disrupt radio waves, through static
and fading.
b) STATIC, or "atmospheric noise", is basically electrical
noise created by lighting. This is what the QRN signal
refers to.
c) Most of the radio energy produced by lightning is at lower
frequencies. So static is a problem mainly on the MF bands,
less so on the HF bands, and not at all on VHF and higher.
(You can hear this by listening to AM and FM radios during a
thunderstorm.)
d) FADING is when your signal fades in and out. There are two
types that are on the exam:
e) MULTIPATH FADING is when your transmitted signal takes two
or more skip paths of different length. The different radio
waves can arrive at the receiver out of phase, and cancel
each other out. Your signal gets louder and softer.
f) SELECTIVE FADING is when the two sidebands of an AM signal
fade differently. We'll talk about sidebands in a future
lesson. This kind of fading causes distortion of the audio
signal. If you've listened to distant AM radio stations at
night, you've probably heard this (when the sound goes from
muffled to very thin sounding and back to normal).
g) PRACTICE QUESTIONS: 2-051, 2-120, 2-073.
13. MORSE REVIEW 4: QHFY
Words QUAFF HAY QUALITY FELL HUFF YANK SHOP GRAB COW FED
QRN QSO QTC QSB QRM
HE FLY QUIT HIS FRY HALF QSY QRT QTH QSL
E. GENERAL DAY PLAN
1. Morning
9:00 15 minutes review/intro
15 minutes Morse lesson
60 minutes theory
10:30 15 minutes break
15 minutes regulations
45 minutes theory
15 minutes Morse review
2. Afternoon
1:30 15 minutes demo
15 minutes practical
15 minutes Morse lesson
45 minutes theory
3:00 15 minutes break
15 minutes regulations
45 minutes theory
15 minutes Morse review
F. GUIDELINES FOR INSTRUCTORS
1. The course has been divided into eight 3-hour sessions, A-H.
Each session is divided into roughly twelve numbered
"topics" (including the Morse lessons and the break).
You should plan to spend about 15 minutes on each topic.
2. The material in the outline is the essential material that
you should cover. You can embellish or elaborate as you see
fit. If the class is having difficulty with a subject, try
a different explanation or a different presentation.
3. At the end of each topic, there are practice questions. Ask
the class to give the answers. For the math-type questions,
work one example first for the class (these are given in the
outline). Then have the class solve the problem. If any
students fail to solve the problem in a reasonable time, or
get the wrong answer, work the problem for the class.
4. We are not exactly following the sequence of the study
guide. You will have a copy of the study guide pages which
cover your material; you may find it useful to refer to this
text on occasion. But REMEMBER that some students have
reading difficulties, so present the material verbally
when possible. (Don't read the entire list of Q signals.)
5. MORSE lessons - teach five or six characters each lesson.
Begin by reviewing the characters from the previous lesson.
Send each character ten times & have the students copy it.
Then send them in sequence.
Then send simple words with two or three different letters.